Home > Georgians@War > Archives > 2007 > March > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMy kingdom for a port-a-john
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ninevah province, Iraq - I am the first woman ever to step foot onto an Iraqi border fort that Georgia soldiers are temporarily using.
I know this just by the expression on Capt. Staff Waleed Mohammed Ibrahim’s face when I walk in with 1st. Lt. Brooks Askew of Atlanta.
Ibrahim quickly confirms my suspicion.
He adds that many of his men, who hail from nearby villages and small towns, have probably never seen a woman wearing pants.
Louie Favorite
Two soldiers from Company H created a makeshift outhouse for the woman on the mission.
I fear that Ibrahim will refuse to be interviewed by a journalist of the “second sex.” I have forgotten on this day to bring along hijab, a head scarf that I wear when I am in conservative Muslim company.
I am relieved when Ibrahim not only agrees to talk but insists that I dine with him. But that is only where my battle begins.
At the border fort, I am surrounded by a platoon of soldiers from Company H, 121st Infantry (ABN)(LRS) and curious Iraqi men who have never seen a woman here, let alone have one live among them.
You could, perhaps, call it one big camping trip out here.
But it’s not as fun as it sounds.
There is no water. No bathrooms.
Think about it. There are no trees in sight. No cover anywhere. And then I am with a bunch of infantrymen who specialize in long range surveillance techniques.
Where am I to find bathroom privacy here?
Cpl. Patrick Heffernan realizes my predicament.
He and Spc. Jonathan McLaughlin set up posts with a blue tarp over it as a makeshift outhouse. I am thankful for the privacy.
Two nights later, a violent storm rolls over the fort. I am burrowed deep in my sleeping bag, thankful for the roof over my head. But all the while I am fraught with worry about the fluttering blue tarp down the hill from the gate. I am thinking the whipping winds will surely bring it down faster than it went up.
In the morning, I walk with great trepidation to the gate. And my greatest fears are confirmed. The tarp is flatter than the surrounding desert terrain.
I start walking to find a safe space. I know there are soldiers in the guard tower with powerful optical devices.
But when you are in the war zone, when your first concern is to stay alive, some things just don’t matter anymore.
And so I’m going back to the border, with another Company H platoon. I am waiting to see which chivalrous soldier will come to my rescue this time.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Categories: Moni Basu
Comments
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By yabbadabbadoo
March 17, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this
hey lady; did you do no research before volunteering for or accepting an assignment in an Arab country?
Though there should be some privacy afforded you, the sole female in a fort of males, are they not also entitled to their privacy? I saw no reference from you regarding their right to eliminate in a secluded environment.
Sorry, but I have very little sympathy for your plight.
By a monotti
March 18, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
yabba dabba
what are you just stupid.
Men can pretty much relieve themselves standing in the backyard anywhere in the world. A woman soldier having the courage just to be there affords her the right to privacy.
You should be thanking her for her courage fighting for your freedom instead of critisizing her in any way.
you yabba dork
By Pappy
March 18, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
“yabba”…
I’ve very little sympathy for your plight; that of being an ignorant, crass, uneducated, illiterate slug.
A professional journalist is hardly one you should approach with poor grammar, pathetic syntax and fouth grade sentence construction.
Lastly, it amuses me no end; you offering comment from the comfort of your home. I can deduce the following: surely your home is as poorly decorated as is your mind.
You’d be better served hitting the books. On second thought, save us all that prospect and immediately enlist for service in Iraq!
But then, I doubt you’d pass the ASVAB test.
By marco
March 18, 2007 9:50 AM | Link to this
You are kidding me, right? How can it be possible for a female soldier/journalist (its not really clear which she is) in a remote landscape not know how to dig a privy hole and use a poncho for cover? And you are relying on the “chivalry” of a male soldier to do this for you? I hope the chivalrous soldier doesnt get his head sniped off just for your privacy issues.
By CM
March 18, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
People - both Iraqi and US - are dying daily - my good friend is RISKING HIS LIFE because our government sent him there - and we’re supposed to be empathetic to your toiletry needs??? GTHOH princess!
By comment
March 18, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
Come on, this woman is worrying about where she can pee. Obviously the biggest issue in this war, not the fact that this newspaper can have a whole section glorifying the serial killers and child rapists who call themselves “soldiers” in the Middle East.
By Alvin Finklestein
March 18, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Everyone I must make comment and take isssue with some of you. This is a blog. An AJC news team is embedded with a unit that patrols the Syrian border.
Do the following: Look at all the work the AJC has done in covering the war to date. No “glorifying”. Simply storytelling; putting a face to the men and women who find themselves in Iraq for whatever reason.
The blog is simply a journal covering the experiences and observations of the AJC journalists and photographers who have been embedded. An experience I imagine, that places them in the same dangers, the same uncomfortable environment and the same hardships experienced by the soldiers they are embedded with.
Should you care to read the news storied filed by them, you’ll find objective reporting of this war.
Lastly, your sterotype of the soldiers serving, and your application of it on the collective shows an ignorance of thought and a lazy cerebral disposition.
I must agree with “Pappy”… quit talking and either go to Iraq and report the war or …
enlist in the United States Army Infantry and show them how its done!
By Traci
March 18, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Very well said Alvin!
By CM
March 18, 2007 8:04 PM | Link to this
Well, “Alvin” - even a blog should do some good in such a serious time and not be such empty-headed, self-indulgant SPOILED fluff. If she had bothered to tie her realization of how one in America comes to assume such luxuries as privacy or even access to facilities at all as normal to her own new found empathy with the majority of Iraqi women in refugee camps who find themselves in the same plight without a nice flight home to look forward to - THEN I may have not been so completely and utterly disgusted by this topic. She makes light of very dire situations. Not that moments of joy or giddiness can’t be had in such tragic conditions - but blogging about life as a helpless brat is sickening. To Marco’s point - thank God the guy didn’t get his head blown off putting up ms. paris hilton’s tarp. Do you know what my friend’s lowest morale moment has been? Finally getting access to american news sites for thirty minutes a few weeks back - and seeing the entire media organization gorging itself stupid over two pieces of low class trash - Anna Nicole and Britany. His realization that we didn’t give a dmn about what they were going through with our super short attention spans fixated on who the “baby daddy” was. Maybe she could have even blogged about the joy of handing over a new pack of baby wipes or some trinkets from home - that would have been worth writing about. She needs to grow the hll up before she’s handed assignments in situations where people die on a daily basis.
By Pappy
March 18, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
Hey CM…just frickin’ incredible. I love how all you non-serving chicken@**t pukes always refer to “my friend’s lowest moment”…or “I know someone over there who…” or “I heard it in the men’s room…third toilet on the left”… “a friend of a friend of a friend told me”…or I heard it on Fox News…
Like Alvin said…a simple blog. Just a journal. Don’t read too much into it.
A simple comment about digging a “cat hole” along the border…in the company of Paratroopers…big deal.
Like I said…recruiters are everywhere and the age has been upped to 42 years non-prior service. Lead the way …
Except you’re busy watching the war instead of fightin’ in it…
And I suspect if you did sign up…you’d be a fobbit pogue, never leave the wire…and wear out your playstation for the whole year…writing home about heroics…”Dearest Mommy, my friend who goes outside the wire everyday…”
By Mistee Lambert
March 19, 2007 5:58 AM | Link to this
To me this article shows just how great our soldiers are “AGAIN”.They will help you anytime you need them.God Bless Co.H.
By Dave Armstrong
March 19, 2007 6:22 AM | Link to this
Squat and unload as needed was the directive followed on my team. Guess things have changed.
By WereIsWas
March 19, 2007 7:23 AM | Link to this
The point of writing doesn’t have to be just cold facts or opinion, but rather the sharing of the human experience. At least H company has a mission this time. In 2003 they guarded a range in Northern Kuwait before they were transfered to Afghanistan.
BTDT, 2003-2004 in the box.
By Tracey
March 19, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
I think you are mistaken about Afghanistan. My brother is in Co H and in 2003 after they left Kuwait they went to Baghdad,near the airport and they also went on over 350 missions. Some very dangerous and thats how he earned his combat infantry badge. He also had over 30 rolls of film that were taken all over Iraq. In fact when Sadaams sons were killed my brother was in that town on a mission with either the 82nd or 101st(cant remember which,I believe 82nd)and also went on missions with the Brits and the Australians. I remember him talking about how the Brits were eating better than anybody and he couldnt believe they had 3 tables of just desserts.
By Tracey
March 19, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this
I think you are mistaken about Afghanistan. My brother is in Co H and in 2003 after they left Kuwait they went to Baghdad,near the airport and they also went on over 350 missions. Some very dangerous and thats how he earned his combat infantry badge. He also had over 30 rolls of film that were taken all over Iraq. In fact when Sadaams sons were killed my brother was in that town on a mission with either the 82nd or 101st(cant remember which,I believe 82nd)and also went on missions with the Brits and the Australians. I remember him talking about how the Brits were eating better than anybody and he couldnt believe they had 3 tables of just desserts.
By WereIsWas
March 19, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
No I’m not mistaken. H company did guard the ranges at whats now Camp Buehring until after the fall of Iraq’s government. They did then relocate north, but were not there long before they left. Not 365 BOG like the rest of us.
By Tracey
March 19, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
Im not saying you were wrong about them guarding a range in Kuwait, as I know that trip they were at Udairi. Dont know if thats what it still is. But after they left Kuwait he stayed in and around Baghdad until he came home.Unless they split up? Could be a different part of H as we had some that went on another trip.
By Tracey
March 19, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
I forgot to say if you were there as well then I thank you for your service. People like you are our Heroes and should be thanked everyday!
By Commanche six golf
March 19, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
Are you still stalking Ms. Basu, Pappy?
By Pappy
March 19, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
Commanch Six Golf!!! What’s up man? What are you up to?
By Comanche six golf
March 19, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this
STFO man, STFO
By Cassandra Blackwell
March 20, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
I live in Columbus, GA. Where Ft Bennging is, there are so man of us military wives here and I wish that someone would be crazy enough to target me and my little son. I guarantee that another spouse if not a service member would see it and stop to help. I served my time and got out..All our troops need support. People say negative things about our troop. If they can’t stand behind them, they should stand in front of them..